Adelaide’s skateboarding community has won a temporary reprieve at the 11th hour to keep the City Sk8 park open until early next year.
After initial plans to close the site this month, the Adelaide City Council secured an extension of the lease until February 2015, when the North Tce location will make way for an expansion of the new Riverbank redevelopment and expansion of the biomedical precinct.
Acting Lord Mayor Natasha Malani says the Council is working to secure funding from the State Government for a new city location.
“As Council sees a city-based skate park as an important element in the range of activities offered in the city with an emphasis on youth and young people, we are pleased to confirm that we have signed a new short term lease agreement with DPTI [Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure] enabling the existing Skate Park to remain open into next year,” she said.
“Research of similar facilities interstate has indicated a budget of around $3m would be required. Council will continue to work closely with State Government to identify and confirm a suitable location in the near future.”
But Tammy Franks Greens MLC, who has urged the State Government to fund a new site, says the issue remains.
“Before we had a year where we knew the lease would expire, so if the same thing occurs again where the State Government doesn’t come to the table and negotiate on this, then we’ll be in that same situation unless they declare funding and engage in the process.”
Franks says Premier Jay Weatherill committed to finding a new location one year ago – and she hopes to hear the Labor Party’s position next week.
“I’m taking my motion on this to a vote next Wednesday night in parliament and the budget comes out Thursday, so I expect the Labor Party to at least engage in the debate on the floor of parliament.”
Franks has launched a petition to secure government funding before the budget next week.
Image: Andre Castellucci
Comments